Edmonton Marathon - Race Reviews

Well organized small marathon with a big city feel. The course was well marked. The course was scenic - lovely neighbourhoods coupled with scenic views of the rivers/ravines. Getting to the start was easy, lots of parking. The start and finish was through downtown and I was a plus 7 hour finishers and there were people cheering you on. Imagine the 5 hour or less folks - huge cheers. The electrolyte on the course I was not familiar with but there was plenty water and sufficient water stops. Packet pick up was simple and easy. It was in the sponsor store. Really glad I waited the 2 years to do it. Results were in that evening along with pictures of you along the course. Estimate about 1000 person did the marathon. There was also the option for early start. Kudos to the organizers and volunteers.

Edmonton Marathon has become my annual event. This year it was a chilly and somewhat rainy race. The same course: 1/4 distance running West, turn around, run East towards 1/2 at start/finish line in downtown, keep running West to 3/4 distance, turn around and keep running East to the finish line along with much faster 10km and 5km runners. I may be back again...

I could say again the same as I did in the past years: very well organised race along flat course in the downtown and beyond. The second half of the marathon course was crowded due to joint forces of marathoners, half-marathoners, 10-km runners and walkers. This year the event was supported by strong presence of local military units which made it rather unique. Thank you, soldiers!

This was a very well organized race including events the day before, the race itself and afterwards. Start and finish was in the Edmonton downtown Jasper Avenue. First half explored east end with a view of refineries, second half took part in the residential west side of the city. The course was almost perfectly flat along paved streets. Support of spectators was limited to the star/finish area and several other locations with drink and food stations. By the way: the day was hot and the sport drinks were extremely diluted and water was warm. PLEASE: do not do that to runners! What we need is drinks that have a taste and water that is cold.

It is well organized. Start and finish downtown. Big enough area close to start to stay dry or warm before start. Great buffet and sit down area for after race treats and awards presentation. Good chance to meet runners. Spectator support is good at start and finish.

It was my first race in Edmonton, my 6th overall and I had a PB in the race. The biggest issue I noticed with the race pertained to the pace rabbits. As I lined up prior to the start, the 3:45 rabbit declared that she had not run a 3:45 previously but that she was hoping to, adding that she had the option of pacing that rate or 4:30, which she had no interest in. That was one indicator that the pacers were not as well organized as I might be accustomed to. The 3:40 rabbit that I planned to follow started off at about a 4:58 pace well, beyond the 5:13 pace he had written on his hat. It became evident that he was not a reliable or experienced pacer for the race and that proved clear when I crossed paths with him - heading toward the 35K marker while he was head to 29 or 30K en route to a time well off the 3:40 he was pacing for. Greater scrutiny of the pace bunnies' experience at the distance and for the times they were pacing for would have made a big difference. All in all a good race: nice flat route through downtown with residential areas covered when outside the core. There were a few spots were control of vehicle traffic could have been better but decent execution there.

This was my first ever marathon, and I am very happy with my decision to run it in Edmonton. The entire weekend was dedicated to the runners. A Saturday fun run, a runners Expo at the Convention Center. The race itself was well organized. The course is beautiful, scenic and flat. Fans lined the course from beginning to end, and they were very vocal and supportive. Water stations with water, electrolytes, gels, and toilets existed about every 3.5 kms. A beautiful medal was awarded at the end, and a well deserved brunch was included! I'm doing it again next year!!!

Race start and finish location at Northlands was well organized, plenty of toilets if you went upstairs in the building. I picked up my race bib and shirt on the race morning as I came in late from out of town. It was easy but shirt is nothing special at all. Race start for marathon was low key, low excitement probably due to number of participants. Course was well marshalled, especially first half, second half had fewer marshals but the streets were very quiet residential areas. First 26 km were very flat, few hills in the last kms which kind of broke up the race. There was only one spot with music & a group of cheering spectators which made this a very quiet boring race. Even having some music playing at water stations would have been nice to inject some energy Water cups were a little small, there were lots of gels on the course but they were all double expresso flavour (meh). Food at end was just OK - wraps, fruit, chips & juice. Highs- flat course gives chance for PB Lows - food at finish

This was my fourth Edmonton Marathon. The course was again different from previous races. The start and finish at the stadium were well organised. The course offered a little of everything: downtown, residential streets, riverside. Not many spectators. Weather was almost tropical especially at the final hours. This was when the small hills of Rundle Park turned into high and steep mountains. Dedicated volunteers did a great job. However the cups were too small and the sport drinks were diluted far too much (please do not do that to runners!).

I was quite disappointed by this race. Having lived in Edmonton for the better part of a decade some years ago I know the city well and this race course does not cover much of interest in the city. There are lots of twists and turns through residential areas. Other than the fact that there are road closures there seems to be no acknowledgment that there is a marathon going on. No one by the roadside (check out Fargo or Fresno for a comparison of how a city's residents get excited about their race), no on course entertainment, etc. Edmonton is a city full of people who get excited about what's happening in their place, why not this race? The expo was sad, but that seems to be a factor in all the Canadian races I've run. The rest of the race organization was pretty average, but everything did work as expected. The big plus in this race is that the volunteers are exceptional. As there were lots of options on race weekend for other races to run, I wished I had chosen another one. This, despite the fact that the course is quite fast and very flat. The little hill close to the end is a complete non-factor.

This race was a mixed bag for me. The expo was small. I was disappointed with the clothing merchandise. 'Edmonton Crazy Fast': would anyone have any idea that had something to do with a marathon? The pre-race facilities were top-notch, with the start/finish at a racetrack, and the indoors available to the runners. The course is mostly flat, out-and-back to the west, then to to east. A tad hillier in the second half. Fairly scenic. It was an exceptionally warm day, and there were not nearly enough water stops, and the cups were tiny (seems the organizers haven't learned from past race comments). I took 3 cups at each water stop, and that was not nearly enough. The volunteers were great. Few spectators. The post-race brunch at the racetrack was awesome. Great food / beverages. The medal was nice. The race shirt is awful, about the worst I've gotten in 72 marathons. The front is 'Crazy Fast' in a large font. Ugh. It was nice to do as part of being on vacation, but I would not travel here specifically for the race.

For a big city, this was a very easy race to get to. No worries about traffic or parking, and runners can chill out inside the grandstand if they so wish before the race. It was their hottest day of the year at 86 degrees, but the race did start early enough to not cause too many problems. That is, until I had to run up Ada Boulevard towards the end. I would love to see that part eliminated as my splits just skyrocketed the last few miles, but I got my BQ. The course is marked in km, so you might want to bring a GPS watch if you're from the States. Everybody was very friendly. I met a local runner who offered to take me on a tour of the course the day before the race. It was just fantastic to know what to expect beforehand. Her boyfriend came out on raceday to cheer us on at various points along the course. Edmonton is a beautiful city, and there was quite a bit of shade through the first two-thirds of the course. The post-race food was among the best and a large tent provided shade. While there, I really enjoyed talking with a very nice local woman who raised horses. You can't go wrong in Edmonton. Go Eskimos!

I really enjoyed this marathon (my 10th, in ~4h20). Expo is small and easy to get through. Parking is literally steps from the start and you can show up as late as 30 min prior. Baggage drop is available at start & well organized, fast. Indoor bathrooms at the racetrack (yay!). No water tables/food at the start though. It's a small field (~500 marathoners), but they stagger start the marathon walkers and half marathon runners, so you have company most of the course. Summer in Edmonton is beautiful, sunny and the mostly flat course runs along the top of the river valley so you have gorgeous views. Pacer bunnies are awesome! My only concern was the small size of the cups at the aid station (smaller than I am used to in other marathons). A lot of people ran with bottles. I didn't. It was a hot day & I got dehydrated toward the end. Post-race breakfast buffet was a little expensive for the guests considering the food was pretty simple (pancakes, scrambled eggs, OJ, etc), but it's free for the runners! T-shirt sizes run big & were a little plain. Medal was nice. Thanks!

I loved this race. The course was flat, the spectators were surprisingly plentiful and I liked the goodies in my race kit. The only glimmer of an issue (and it's not a big deal) is that they were a bit disorganized at the last water station and I had to yell for someone to get me a cup. Not a biggie though. I would gladly recommend this race to anyone.

This was my first time running in Edmonton. I was in the area on vacation so decided to run. Being from Winnipeg I know what flat is so the hills on the last loop of the course surprised me and caused me some problems. The volunteers were fabulous and right there to help. As a note for improvement, please have larger water cups. Wonderful hot food after the race was very appreciated. The medals were beautiful! I received two to add to my collection.

This was full marathon #43 in many great locations but never Edmonton. I agree with the first two runners who commented. I would only add: -The post race brunch might have had the best food after any of my marathons. -I usually do not like meeting half marathoners on the course. However, they did it well in Edmonton with runners going about the same pace. -The water cups were very small. This could have cause health problems for runners on the warmer day. However, I carried a water bottle. At least 3 times, the volunteers at the water stations, made a point of asking me if they could fill it. Thanks to those people. -Being from Winnipeg the hills were harder than I expected. They did not seems as high on the elevation map provided. -The medal was great but the white tee-shirt was poor with a lot of advertising on the back. We get the same type at local 5 and 10 kms. Congrats to all those involved.

My judgment may be clouded since I set my PR here, but I felt the race was extremely well organized and run. The starting location features INDOOR amenities open to runners for bag check, warm-up and toilets. This allows you to stay warm without having to don shaggy throw-away clothes at the starting line. The starting corrals were clearly marked with finishing times and other runners generally respected the signage. The course itself was very scenic and easy to run. All turns were clearly marked, with marshals there actively yelling and directing the traffic. At no times did I feel lost, despite this being a smaller race and running nearly alone at times. Aid stations were sufficiently staffed. The sponge station sometime after the 30K mark was much appreciated, given the unusual heat on the day of this race. Most importantly, the race properly separated the half-marathon runners from the full-marathon runners, decreasing congestion. This was done in two ways: - Half marathoners start 30 minutes after the full. - The turn-around point for the half-marathon is such that when I encountered the half-marathoners, they were generally running at my pace, so no weaving was required. - The finishing line is partitioned for full/half runners. Post-race there was plenty of food and even a brunch with HOT food. Eggs, ham, pancakes and some sweet baked bread were provided. If only my stomach felt like eating that much after running for 3+ hours!

I've run Boston, Chicago, New York, many other marathons in the US and Canada, but Edmonton remains one of my favourites. There were a lot of runners from the US as well as other parts of Canada who came here to get their Boston Qualification and I personally know several who were very successful in doing so. This year the race organizers went above and beyond to make some improvements to last year (which was also an excellent marathon); this year there was a bigger race expo, a sponge station, a misting station, and the runners didn't have to go up or down any stairs to get to the post-race brunch! Although I personally didn't run a PR this year (the weather was unseasonably warm for Edmonton), I really enjoyed the race. Here are a few highlights: - First and foremost, the flat course! - I loved the out-and-backs, and being able to see the elites running toward me in two different locations. - There were more spectators this year, especially along 102 ave. west of 109st - There were a group of runners dressed like Elvis running the half; they were hilarious! - I don't think I've run a marathon where the other runners were so friendly! - There was a sponge station that we went through twice; it was AMAZING on a hot day! - The race medal is beautiful. - There were a ton of volunteers and police officers, who cheered for the runners and made it a fabulous race! The only (minor) disappointment this year is the race shirt; it's almost exactly like last year's, except less attractive and more like a big advertisement (but I already have too many race shirts anyway!) I really appreciated the daily updates on the race Facebook page. I emailed the race director with questions twice, and my emails were returned within a few hours. I am happy to see that the word is spreading about this marathon, but also glad that it hasn't gotten too big yet!

Great, flat course. Good for PRs. Maybe a little boring for scenery, but I qualified for Boston, so I can't complain!! Flat course, free parking, good post-race meal, indoors facilities pre- and post-race, great organization. Family activities the day prior are also first rate, with jumping things, pony rides, face painting and the kids' race. (Did I forget to mention a really cool petting zoo?) Only downsides are limited spectators (maybe 4K of single file spectators, otherwise nothing), and the plain, white, short-sleeve shirt. To address the other complaints I have noticed: just yell, "Water or Gatorade?" when approaching a station, and the volunteers will let you know. Don't wear your new shirt on race day - this is marathon rule #1. The stairs afterward do stink, but they are post-race and worth the trip.

This was my 10th marathon and first Edmonton Marathon; I'd never run it before because the former course was so hilly. This new course was fantastic; here is my impression of this race: Pros: - Easy registration and excellent race website. The organizers were also quick to communicate about the smoke issue that surprised Edmonton 3 days before the race, and which was a concern to many runners. - Easy package pickup at race expo. - Free parking on race morning. - HUGE BONUS: before the race, runners were able to check gear and relax indoors. This also meant lots of nice, clean, indoor bathrooms with little to no line-ups, ever for us women! - Perfect race weather: 11 degrees at the start, 15 at the finish. The first half was quite sunny, and the second half was cloudy but it didn't rain. - Very flat course, with only one small hill at 36K. - The course was also scenic with lots of pretty trees and beautiful residential areas. In the Valleyview area, there were amazing vistas of downtown. - Lots of spectators along 102 Ave., 142nd St. and even Ada Blvd. - When the half marathoners joined us at their turn-around point and our 15K, it added a whole new dimension of energy to the race (not to mention more spectators). I didn't find it to be too congested, and the halfers I was running beside were running at my pace. - There were a few out-and-back sections of the course where we could see faster AND slower runners. - Plenty of aid stations with Gatorade, water and gels. - Lots of amazing volunteers. - Nice technical race shirt, and great medal. - Post-race food was a hot brunch, which included eggs, pancakes, ham, cookies, muffins, and 4 different types of juice. Cons: - To get to the post-race food, we had to take an underground tunnel, which also included going up and down 2 sets of stairs twice. It was a bit uncomfortable after running 42K! - During the three sections of the course that were loops, there were virtually no spectators. Of the Canadian marathons I've run (Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto Waterfront), this new course makes Edmonton my favorite. If you are interested in a fast marathon or even just a really fun time, this is THE marathon.

The course is ok, but should be nicer, given the proximity of the river valley. The 21K turnaround at the pylon on 51 Avenue is pretty lame. The shirt, which I foolishly wore for the race, will never be worn again - as the material (now bloodstained) is obviously too heavy and too coarse to be functional. And I see they still haven't fixed the Gatorade/water issue - the solution to which (differently-colored cups) was provided below. There are no such problems in many other small-town races. What's the deal? Hopefully these glitches will be fixed for 2010. The police, city and volunteer support were all terrific, providing for a very safe, urban running environment.

To bad for the screw-ups with the medals... sad!! Loved the course. August has hot weather, but what do you expect for this time of year? The fountain/pool at the end was awesome. The course was a bit challenging at times, but the hills weren't all that bad.

You don't run this marathon trying to set your PR or as a last-second qualifier for Boston. Three ascents out of the river valley at 5K, 10K and 30K make even-split pacing a bit of a challenge. Despite dire forecasts of hot weather, only two runners had to be treated for heat-related problems. Water stations were well-manned and better organized than last year (though still not up to standard which should be: one color cup for water; one color cup for sports drink. I hate having to shout, "Water" at every station.) Post-race festivities were excellent and spacious in their new digs. Coffee was had with no line-ups, and no waiting (5 stars for that!!), and the breakfast was also top-notch. Spectators usually congregate at the hills, which is nice. The finish was also a bit of a "Tour-de-France" feel, with runners separated only by a few feet from cheering onlookers.

Course is good; it's got a couple of climbs in the first 13K, but after that, it's pretty fast. One steep climb with 10K to go; I recommend just walking up the last part of the ravine. Fast last 10K. Didn't catch the 4:00 pacer until 36K (I ran 3:48). He had a group of 25 at the start and had 3 people with him at the end. It's a pity that the people who trained for 4:00 followed him - they got run into the ground in the first half. Buy a Garmin; don't count on the pacers.

Not happy about the organization at all. Not only was the date changed, and we did not received notification, but the race package pickup was not where it should have been, as stated on the web page. The medal is unreadable and the shirt is just another white shirt!!! However, I must say that the volunteers along the way and the spectators were awesome!!!

I thoroughly enjoyed running this event. I did the run/walk system, per Jeff Galloway. Although the weather was hot, there were plenty of aid stations along the route. The camaraderie among the runners was fantastic, The marshaling and finishing area were top-notch and the post-race refreshments were very welcome and plentiful, even for those of us who were in the last 30% of the runners to finish. I hope to be back next year.

My 2nd (half) Edmonton; weather was in great 2005/6; pace bunnies really help us; overall spirit was high; organization (gear bag check-in, etc.) was well done; the buffet is spectacular. Well-kept secret from Americans, and I wonder why... a contingent from San Jose, CA was there in 2006, though. This is a class-act that few groups have matched. - B. Austin. (Four marathons; 15 half-marathons.)

Being from Calgary, it's not very much fun saying that you guys kicked our you-know-what when it comes to putting on a great marathon. Would someone from your organization please tell Calgary that food is important after a marathon? The best organized marathon of the 7 I have run. I would recommend this race to all runners who are considering it.

As a past resident of Edmonton, I keep coming back to this great city. This time the weather was perfect and the course was very familiar to me. The course offered many urban and natural attractions of the city. The steep ravine on the way back was steeper than I remembered from my last run and I am afraid it will be even steeper the next time. There were not many spectators, but they offered loud and needed support. And as always - excellent volunteers.

This is a very well organized event on a scenic course which twice crosses the South Saskatchewan River. Various loops throughout the course keep it interesting and enable you to see runners coming the other way. The locals were very encouraging to all runners both vocally and with signs. I would definitely recommend this marathon.

This was my first marathon and I was very impressed with the fan support and turnout despite a horrible weather day. It was rainy and cold, but the aid stations were fantastic. The course was nice, but I would have preferred not an out and back style. Overall I had a great experience and loved it. Thanks.

This was my first marathon, so I have nothing to compare it to. The course followed a very pretty route, through some of the nicest residential districts in Edmonton, plus along the river valley. Two of the hills were early in the race, so were no problem. The McKinnon Ravine hill at 30 km was tough, but at least it was pretty. The cold, wind and moisture probably deterred casual spectators, but I gave the spectators a score of four because of the volunteers. They were incredible, standing there in that weather for hours. Hats off to them for their friendly support. Organization was good. I was impressed that there was food at the brunch for the last finishers.

This was a very well organized event. I will not complain too much about the weather; at least it was not snowing. The facilities at the start/finish were OK and the volunteers did an excellent job. Two suggestions for improvement: 1. Elevation chart of the course would be very helpful 2. The section of the course near the U of A Experimental Farm could be re-routed to avoid the obvious discomfort of breathing manure-scented air.

Hi: No, I will not hold you responsible for the weather! This was a good run (I did the 1/2 marathon) and the organization and course were definitely very good. Road marshalls were good, there was no time I had difficulty finding the actual route or having to wake up marshalls to tell them to point the way (this unfortunately does happen in some races). The only negative for me was the high price for the extra brunch tickets - $10 would have been appropriate.

The new route allows runners to view Edmonon's beautiful river valley with a minimum of road closures. The course is challenging without an excessive amount of elevation gain. The third hill (McKinnon Ravine) after 30 km was tough, but manageable. Overall a good route.